Little elf delivers load of toys

Columbus’ real-life “Elf on the Shelf” has made a delivery of toys to the Columbus Firemen’s Cheer Fund and plans to deliver even more toys to the Salvation Army this week.

The adventures of 18-month-old Forest Schott, who entertains friends and family by wearing his red elf costume and embarking on funny pranks and situation comedy in photos, are now a national phenomenon. Forest, and his parents, Devin and Megan Schott, are featured on the NBC Today show website.

The family Friday delivered about half of a treasure trove of toys to the Cheer Fund, fulfilling a promise they made that if people contributed to Forest’s gofundme page, the money would go to the Cheer Fund and the Salvation Army.

The account is now approaching the family’s new goal of $2,000, beyond the original $500 sought at the beginning of the month, Megan Schott said.

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Innovative Contracting, a Taylorsville company, is matching the first $500 that is donated, and that money is being divided as a cash donation to the Cheer Fund and Salvation Army, Megan Schott said.

The Schott family did their toy shopping the week of Dec. 4, focusing on toys for children ages 8 to 12, Megan Schott said. Forest helped shop for a variety of remote-control helicopters and monster trucks, footballs and other toys which were delivered Friday night to the Cheer Fund warehouse at the United Way Building.

Firefighters and volunteers are completing the boxing of gifts for families this week and plan to distribute and deliver the boxes on Saturday.

The Schotts will then shop this week for the Salvation Army and deliver those gifts late this week, Megan Schott said.

Forest made quite a hit at Walmart and Menard’s when the family did the first shopping trip, his mother said.

“People kept stopping us and saying, ‘Oh is that the elf?’” she said.

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If you are interested in contributing to help Forest Schott exceed his goal to buy toys for the Salvation Army and Columbus Firemen’s Cheer Fund, visit the gofundme page at gofundme.com/ForestOnTheShelfToyDrive

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